Member Article

This week's North East appointments

To kickstart the week we bring you a roundup of the latest appointments from across the region.

Justin Musgrove, Ken Campling and Anthony Elliott, The Bannatyne Group

The Bannatyne Group has strengthened its senior team with three key appointments.

Justin Musgrove, formerly Managing Director, has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer. Ken Campling has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Board Director and Anthony Elliott as Director of Operations.

Justin has been with the Bannatyne Group since 2007, when he joined as Group Spa Director to oversee the growth of the company’s spa portfolio. More recently he was the Group’s Commercial Director before stepping up to the position of Managing Director in 2015.

Ken joined the company in 2014 as Finance Director and has managed the establishment of an accounts team that is respected across the Group. A qualified accountant, Ken has a strong retail background and exceptional commercial acumen.

Anthony, who joined the Group five years ago following a successful 12-year career as a professional Rugby Union player, will have responsibility for day-to-day operations across the health club, spa and hotel businesses.

He has been the architect of the Bannatyne gym refurbishment programme adopting the very latest techniques and design, which has seen dramatic improvements in satisfaction and retention of members.

Justin Musgrove, Chief Executive of the Bannatyne Group, added: “There is a new senior management team at the Bannatyne Group and we work together exceptionally well, as can be attested by increasing member numbers and ever-growing customer demand for the health clubs, spas and hotels.”

Chairman Duncan Bannatyne, Steve Hancock, Director of Estates & Facilities and Ed James, Legal Counsel & Director complete the senior management team.

Dan Cooper, Ryecroft Glenton

Independent chartered accountants Ryecroft Glenton has appointed auditor and client services manager Dan Cooper as Senior Manager in its Business and Assurance team.

Dan said: “I am extremely excited about my move and this new opportunity with Ryecroft Glenton, a firm which I have had a very good relationship with for a number of years. Ryecroft Glenton is a very well respected firm both in the North East and nationally.

“My move to the Newcastle area gives me the opportunity to build new relationships with other professional advisers, as well as many new businesses and business owners over the coming months (and in the longer term). However, it is now all about the work, and I am looking forward to being a part of a great team, and the continued growth of the firm.”

Ivan Jepson, Gateshead College

Gateshead College has recruited Ivan Jepson to its management team. Ivan, who has almost 25 years of industry and private sector experience, takes up the role of business development director at the college.

Ivan joins the college executive team from Northumbrian Water where he’s spent most of his working career in various roles from laboratory scientist to customer service to public affairs.

He said: “It was a difficult decision to leave a great employer but Gateshead College offered a real challenge and opportunity to make a difference to both regional employers young people and those working or looking for work in our region.”

Elizabeth Hubbuck, Patrick Parsons

Multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm, Patrick Parsons, has appointed Elizabeth Hubbuck as its new human resources manager at its Newcastle headquarters.

Elizabeth has over ten years’ experience working in HR across a variety of industries including manufacturing, oil & gas and the third sector. Before joining Patrick Parsons Elizabeth worked as an HR officer for a company which provided documents in accessible formats to blind and partially sighted people.

Elizabeth said: “I feel I have joined at an exciting time for Patrick Parsons, particularly from a personnel perspective, due to the company’s continued growth and expansion.

“I would like to gain a good understanding of the firm’s business needs; build good working relationships with all staff across the group and provide continued support within my HR capacity.”

Kamran Hyder, Ward Hadaway

Law firm Ward Hadaway has strengthened its property team at its Newcastle office with the recruitment of a new Partner.

Kamran Hyder brings with him more than 15 years’ experience in all areas of planning and highways law, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters and advising on a number of major projects.

Speaking about his appointment, Kamran said: “I have always admired Ward Hadaway’s unshaking commitment to get to grips with the real needs and concerns of their clients and their ability to quickly address the commercial issues of a transaction.

“Their friendly and straightforward approach is refreshing, and I am excited to join a team that puts the needs of their clients at the heart of everything they do.”

Gary Lumby MBE, Biochemica UK

Teesside-based water management company Biochemica UK Ltd has appointed Gary Lumby MBE, Managing Director of Focus on Success, to its Board as the company’s first Non Executive Director (NED).

The announcement follows a company restructure made at the start of the year, which saw the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer to oversee the day-to-day management of the business. A Leadership Team, comprising of Biochemica’s senior managers and directors was also established to drive performance and departmental alignment.

Biochemica has enlisted the expertise of Mr Lumby, who holds several NED positions at other northern businesses, in an attempt to drive its national and international growth.

Managing Director at Biochemica, Dave Ruddy said: “Gary impressed us with his extensive and proven track record in helping companies like ours to realise their potential. We are delighted to have him on board at this critical time as we embark on taking Biochemica to the next level.”

Ruth Conner, Active Chartered Financial Planners

Active Chartered Financial Planners of Thornaby (Stockton on Tees) has appointed Ruth Conner as Marketing Manager.

Active, established in 2000 is a team of specialist Independent Financial Planners providing a full suite of financial planning services to Private Individuals, Corporate Businesses and Professional Practices.

Ruth will be working closely with the directors to implement Active’s marketing strategy.

Karl Pemberton, Managing Director, said: “Appointing Ruth as marketing manager is great news for Active and as demand in financial planning continues, we plan to recruit more Financial Advisers in 2016.”

Gary Burton

Gary Burton has joined a Northumberland school’s senior management team creating a potential alliance to guide the future job prospects of hundreds of pupils.

The region’s first Enterprise Advisor, Gary is spearheading a North East Local Enterprise Partnership initiative embedding business leaders into secondary schools on a voluntary basis to help teachers shape the delivery of careers education.

Gary, managing director at specialist engineering firm Arefco, is offering his industry expertise as part of the team at the Northumberland Church of England (C of E) Academy’s Ashington campus. He will bring extensive industry knowledge to the school to ensure careers provision for pupils meets business need.

The close working relationship between Arefco – based on the Jubilee Industrial Estate in Ashington - and Northumberland C of E Academy is part of the North East LEP’s wider work to boost economic growth through educational achievement.

Gary said: “We have a very specific need for technical skills and the type of people we need are just not in the shop window for us to employ. Through the partnership with the academy, we can identify the right attitude, aptitude and approach pupils will need to successfully develop and progress into sustainable employment – it’s a win-win opportunity.”

Adam Chaffer, Sarah Carr, Swinburne Maddison LLP

Swinburne Maddison LLP has recently appointed paralegal Adam Chaffer and solicitor Sarah Carr to its corporate tea, which is headed up by partner Martyn Tennant.

Martyn said: “In recent months we have added some six new members to the firm and had a further two of our trainees, Helen Griffiths and Roland Fairlamb, become fully qualified. Congratulations to both on their achievements.

“I am delighted that both Sarah and Adam have decided to join us at a time when the practice continues to enjoy a period of sustained growth. I am very much looking forward to the positive contribution I am confident they are going to make to our continued success.”

Michael Parker and Alfred van Wyk, PD Ports

PD Ports has made two key appointments in Michael Parker and Alfred van Wyk to help take forward growth plans at Teesport.

Michael has been appointed as Business Development Manager to help develop supply chain solutions which add value for customers importing and exporting dry bulk cargo.

With more than 15 years’ experience in the construction industry, Michael joins PD Ports from Hope Construction Materials, where he was Area Commercial Manager for three years.

Alfred has joined PD Ports as General Manager Business Development bringing with him over 20 years of industry knowledge including full UK intermodal experience.

Formerly employed by DB Schenker where he worked for over five years as UK Intermodal Sales Manager, Alfred will be responsible for driving new business in support of Teesport’s logistics growth strategy.

Mike Renton, Harvey & Hugo

Darlington-based PR agency Harvey & Hugo has employed Mike Renton, an experienced PR professional who has worked in and with the media for more than six years.

Having studied Film and Television Production at university, Mike is a qualified journalist who has worked as a reporter for the York Press, a press officer for Parliament and then settled in public relations two years ago.

Mike said: “I am looking forward to joining the pack and meeting the CEO (Harvey) and Chairman (Hugo) and of course, getting stuck into my new role.

“I know the company has a fantastic reputation across the North East and the team thrive on celebrating the success of businesses, which is what I’m looking forward to being a part of.”